Kaimur Hills

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This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS.

Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.

Kaimur Hills

The eastern portion of the Vindhyan range, com- mencing near Katangi in Jubbulpore District of the Central Provinces (23 degree 26' N. and 79 degree 48' E.). It runs a little north of east for more than 300 miles to Sasaram in Bihar (24 degree 57' N. and 84 degree 2' E). The range, after traversing the north of Jubbulpore District and the south- east of Maihar State, turns to the east and runs through Rewah territory, separating the valleys of the Son and Tons rivers, and con- tinues into Mirzapur District of the United Provinces and Shahabad of Bengal. Its maximum width is 50 miles. In the Central Provinces the appearance of the range is very distinctive. The rock formation is metamorphic and the strata have been upheaved into an almost vertical position, giving the range the appearance of a sharp ridge. In places the range almost disappears, being marked only by a low rocky chain, and in this portion it never rises more than a few hundred feet above the plain. The range enters Central India at Jukehi in Maihar State (23° 29' N. and 8o° 27' E.), and runs for 150 miles in a north-easterly direction, forming the northern wall of the Son valley and overhanging the river in a long bold scarp of sandstone rock, from which near Govindgarh a branch turns off to the north-west.

The range here attains an elevation of a little over 2,000 feet. In Mirzapur the height of the range decreases in the centre, to rise again to over 2,000 feet at the rock of Bijaigarh with its ancient fort. Interesting relics of pre- historic man have been found in the caves and rock-shelters of the hills here, in the form of rude drawings and stone implements. In Shahabad District the summit of the hills consists of a series of saucer-shaped valleys, each a few miles in diameter, containing a deposit of rich vegetable mould in the centre and producing the finest crops. The general height of the plateau is here 1,500 feet above sea-level. The sides are precipitous, but there are several passes, some of which are practicable for beasts of burden. The ruined fort of Rohtas is situated on these hills. The rocks throughout consist principally of sandstones and shales.